Marina Bay with Suntec City and National Stadium and Kallang in the background.

7/26/2011

Legally right but morally wrong?

The issue of life long pensions in the millions is going to bug the govt and the people for a long time to come. Though everything has been above board, approved and passed in Parliament, something seems to be missing. Why are the people so unhappy about this pension scheme for the ministers and political office bearers?

Recently two ministers and an office holder lost their parliamentary seats. Several senior ministers were retired from the cabinet for good or not so good reasons. What is shocking is the revelation that they will all be receiving million dollar pensions for life, even if they are no longer ministers or office holders. What is more shocking is that many are already receiving million dollar pensions on top of their multi million dollar salaries when they hit 55, or have been receiving them for umpteen years. Some have been collecting the huge pensions for more than ten years.

What irks the people more is that the age for CPF withdrawal and retirement age for the public at large have been pushed further back. CPF savings can now be withdrawn partially at the age of 62. And the political leaders, with their huge salaries, are getting their huge pensions at 55.

Is this a case of legally right and morally wrong? Of course in cases of morality, everyone has his moral standards and everyone can claim to be on moral high grounds. The only hint of morally wrongdoing is that when the guilty party is afraid to stand up on the high box of morality to state his case. If it is morally right, everyone will jump on it to pronounce their innocence and that they are on high moral grounds for what they are doing.

Would the political leaders stand up and say that the high pensions are not only legally right but morally as well? Would they be able to tell straight in the eyes of entry level superscale admin officers in the H Grade, who are working their guts out, and drawing a couple of hundreds of thousand in annual income while they are receiving millions for life for doing nothing? Would there be a full disclosure on how many political leaders are already on the pension schemes and how many more will qualify and the cost to pay for these pensioned leaders? Even if it is going to cost only 2 plates of char kway teow, it is of public interest that the people should know.

It would be nice if this is reported in the next parliamentary sittings to clear whatever doubts and wrong perceptions there may be among the people. Political leaders must be seen to be standing on high moral grounds, not just legally. This issue has to be raised in Parliament and buried for good as the doubts and uneasiness are spreading quietly. Or would it ever be closed?

This is the biggest suspicion in everyone's mind. The more reluctant they are to return the CPF money to the people, the more schemes they created to hold on to the people's savings, the more doubts they are creating in the minds of the people.

The simple layman logic is that if they have the money they will pay back willingly.

Moral has no value.Millions of SINDollars per yeargotten LEGALLY allow one to live like a king.Why should they be bothered bymorality when they get their money legally or lawfully???Mind You, they don't steal or rob You for the monies, they letYou know what and how they pay themselves. I would say that they have been very frank, candid and honest. Very moral; so to say.

Firstly, they make sure those pensioners remain dormant and still tow the line.

Secondly, for earning those pensions, loyalty is paramount. So, those that came can see the huge benefits of those that left. It makes them subservient to their cause. Jump ship and you stand to lose big.

So, we can see why disagreements are kept closely behind doors and voting in Parliament on issues still follow the majority decision, whatever the merits of any dissension.

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As owner of this blog, I bear no responsibility to what other bloggers may post. I encourage all to speak freely without indulging in libel or defamatory content. Anyone who feels offended by any posting can email me and I will remove the offending article if appropriate. Contact me at redbean9@gmail.com